Introduction

For some people, coming to see a therapist for the first time can be a great relief. They think at last they are getting help with a difficult problem and feel hopeful. For others seeing a therapist for the first time can raise a lot of difficult and painful thoughts and feelings that they may have tried to avoid. When this happens people can sometimes feel hopeless. This page will help you think about what you can do and where you can turn to for help.

Getting in touch with your therapist

You may have talked with your therapist and agreed an action plan to manage these difficult times. If you haven’t done this yet, and you are finding it difficult to cope with your feelings of depression or anxiety, your therapist will be happy to talk things through with you.

If you feel in crisis on a day when you are not due to see your therapist, you could always call the office on 01234 880400 and we will ask them to contact you although this may not be immediately. If you feel you can not wait to talk to your therapist you should call the numbers further on in this page instead.

Is there anything else you could do?

When you feel quite desperate or hopeless, it may be because you are stuck in a rut of repeated thoughts and/or actions. Just doing something small to change this pattern can help. If you find yourself stuck in a loop of thinking, make a deal with yourself to do something you’ve enjoyed in the past, something like taking a short walk to get some fresh air, or listening to a favourite piece of music, just for 10 minutes or so, just to see if you feel any better.

Can family or close friends help?

For some people, talking with friends and/or family can help in a crisis. If you have a close family member or a friend you get on well with, they might be the best person to turn to if you finding yourself unable to cope.

Help lines

You might not want to talk to a family member or close friend about things that are so very difficult and/or personal. If this is the case and you are struggling, you could try one of the following help lines: